Description
A rich, creamy, and savory weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken breasts in a garlic parmesan sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (packed in oil, drained)
- 1 tablespoon reserved sun-dried tomato oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge each piece in flour, shaking off excess.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F). Remove to a plate and tent with foil.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Stir in heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese gradually until melted and smooth. Add spinach and stir until wilted (about 1 minute).
- Return chicken to the skillet and spoon sauce over it. Let sit for 1 minute to heat through. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve immediately with desired sides like pasta, garlic bread, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
Pat chicken dry for a better sear. Do not skip the flour dredge as it helps thicken the sauce. Grate your own Parmesan to avoid grainy sauce. Remove pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent breaking. Reserve oil from sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Tuscan chicken, creamy garlic chicken, sun-dried tomato chicken, weeknight dinner, easy chicken recipe, one pan meal, Italian dinner